Undergraduate Scholarships

Please visit our Office of Student Aid at Penn State for an overview of scholarship information and resources.
 

Academic and Need-Based Scholarships and Awards

All Penn State Behrend students are automatically considered for most of our academic and need-based scholarships. There is no separate Penn State application for most scholarships, however, filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for need-based scholarship consideration.

While Penn State continues to build its scholarship endowment, available funds do not yet reach all deserving students. Each year, Penn State enrolls many outstanding and academically talented students and therefore cannot assist all deserving students. Scholarship funds are very competitive and limited.

Awards vary and are determined by donor guidelines. The average award is $2,500 for the academic year. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit or financial need, or a combination, as defined by the specific scholarship program.

The Discover Penn State Award

This newly established award is available to Penn State students from states bordering Pennsylvania (Ohio, New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia), as well as the District of Columbia and Virginia. Students from these states may be considered for an award of $6,000 in their freshman and sophomore years, and $7,000 in their junior and senior years. The Discover Award will follow a student to another Commonwealth Campus but not to University Park. The priority admissions application date for students enrolling for the upcoming fall is November 30.

The Provost Award

The Provost Award, which is dedicated to Pennsylvania residents, ranges between $5,000 (for freshmen and sophomores) and $7,000 (for juniors and seniors). The Provost Award follows a student if the student transitions to another Commonwealth Campus or to University Park.

The Chancellor Award

The Chancellor Award ranges between $1,000 and $6,000 with a preference for high-achieving, first-year students who are the first in their families to attend college.

 

Teaching Scholarships

Penn State Behrend Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

Penn State Behrend, in conjunction with the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, has created the Penn State Behrend Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. Undergraduate juniors and seniors eligible to pursue dual majors in Mathematics and Secondary Education in Mathematics may apply to this program, which provides up to $22,500 in financial assistance per academic year for up to two years. Programming will equip teachers to thrive in diverse settings and will offer mentoring into graduates’ early teaching careers. Scholarship recipients are required to complete two years of teaching mathematics in a high-need school district anywhere in the U.S. for each year of scholarship support received.

 

Leadership Scholarships

Penn State Behrend offers numerous leadership scholarships based on extracurricular activities and leadership potential. The First Year Class Leadership Scholarship application window for students starting in Fall 2020 is now open. The deadline for new students is January 15, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

Penn State change-of-campus students and transfer/advanced standing students should contact our Student Affairs Office for details on applying.

Penn State Behrend STEM Leaders Scholarship

Penn State Behrend, in conjunction with the National Science Foundation (NSF), has created a new STEM Leaders Scholarship program for selected students with demonstrated financial need who plan to major in STEM fields. The comprehensive four-year program is designed to provide incoming first-year students with financial aid, as well as academic, social, personal, and professional support. In addition to providing scholarship support of up to $13,500 over four years, the STEM Leaders program includes a STEM Leaders living-learning community, career mentoring, a customized STEM Leaders leadership course, outreach engagement, and internship and research opportunities. 

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarships

Penn State Behrend offers Chancellor's Scholarships to community-college graduates who are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society of the Two Year College. Students must provide a certificate of membership and a letter of recommendation from their PTK chapter adviser to be considered. Contact the Penn State Behrend Financial Aid Office for further details.

Lawrence and Elizabeth Held Scholarships

Students enrolled in a major in Penn State Behrend's Black School of Business who have been accepted into the University-wide Schreyer Honors College will be considered for scholarships up to $10,000 per year. Learn more about scholarships for honors business majors.

Schreyer Scholars Program

First-year students selected to join the Schreyer Scholars Program will receive four-year renewable awards of $5,000 per academic year. Penn State Behrend will provide a matching $5,000 per year scholarship to first-year students joining the Schreyer Honors College. These scholarships are renewable as long as students remain in good academic standing with the Schreyer Honors College. Students may be considered for admission to the Schreyer Scholars Program after their first year; however, scholarships are not guaranteed. Students may also be selected to join the Penn State Behrend Honors Program. Although being a member of the Honors Program does not guarantee scholarship funds, many of the Penn State Behrend scholarships give priority to students who are members of the Schreyer Scholars or Behrend Honors programs. Please visit the Schreyer Honors College and Penn State Behrend Honors Program for further details.

 

Employer-Based Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships offered by Penn State Behrend which give preference to students or dependents of parent(s) who work for specific companies. To apply, complete the online application form.
 

Veterans Benefits and Scholarships

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as their dependents, may be eligible to receive one or more educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
 

Army ROTC Scholarships

The Penn State Behrend Army ROTC program offers generous scholarship benefits, including full tuition and fees coverage, book allotment, and spending allowance.
 

Study Abroad Scholarships

Penn State Behrend awards several study abroad scholarships to students enrolled or planning to enroll in an international study program who have a proven need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses. Complete a study abroad application to apply.
 

Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarships are available through civic foundations, nonprofit organizations, churches, high schools, and employers.

• Penn State also recommends several scholarship search programs on the internet. These searches are free to prospective and continuing students.
• Penn State Behrend's Office of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs maintains a list of scholarship opportunities.
• Finaid.org
• Fastweb.com
   

Creative Writing Scholarships

The following endowed scholarships are awarded to students who have achieved a superior academic record or who manifest promise of outstanding writing. Creative writing scholarships may require a separate application. Learn more about creative writing scholarships.

• Corey N. Farrell Memorial Scholarship
• Clarence A. Smith and Eugenie Baumann Smith Endowed Scholarship
• Kenneth J. Sonnenberg Poetry Award